.....And Then There Was Light....the Clearaudio Concept turntable

Mr T M mood - Price comparison looks like amazon a bit cheaper...how bout the courier charge

Courier charges depends v much on the weight of your order. I usually get mine delivered by Fedex and would cost btwn usd35-50. Normally takes about 4-5 days. If only the customs people don't kacau, or at least be consistent in their valuation.

fizi wrote:Mr T M mood - Price comparison looks like amazon a bit cheaper...how bout the courier charge

Fizi,

Amazon usually use general post, if u nak cepat, order early in the months, and so far never kena kacau by kastam.. Acousticsounds and musicdirect sometimes if shipped by Fedex always kena kacau by Kastam. Just 2 days ago, received my AP (analogue production's ) SACD and LP of same tittle (plus MF vinyl sleeves), kena extra RM100.09 saman .. If I'm getting something from Audiogon, always asks the seller if the ship Fedex or not; normally I'd asked them to opt for other courier.

my two sens worth...

mugenfoo wrote:The Beatles & Bob Dylan.

Bro,

Thanks for the P7 set up... now enjoying more of the black spinning disks.. Ironically got an Analogue Production reissue of one of my favourite album, Stan Getz Joao Gilberto that you spun for me the other day. Apparently, for this reissue, the channel has been 'switched' with Astrud now on the left channel...

Quoted from Acousticsound

The original master tapes for this title had not been used since 1980 previous to this reissue. Also, for this Analogue Productions reissue the decision was made to master and present this album as it was originally mixed to master tape. With very few exceptions all versions of this title to date, including the original, have had the channels incorrectly reversed. With this version, you'll hear this title as it was intended to be heard, without the channels reveresed. And again, those reissues you've heard up until now - definitely still breathy, warm and rich - were made from something less than the master. Prepare to hear the veil removed.

Ironically I have a 1964 Japanese Verve pressing of the same album (acquired at Amcorp) but the channels were as they were prior to this AP release.. Dunno who to believe..

Anyway, got u another vinyl for your effort with the P7, still unwrap direct from UK.. Hope you can take a Time out to 'Take Five' to listen to some 'unker' jazz..

Cheers,

zb
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My copy of one reissue of Dave Brubeck is still sealed since it was acquired. I think its one of the earlier re-issues, but not the one a buddy bought at Rock Corner for a little over a hundred and it sound "just ok", doesn't seem to have freshness of an early Columbia release.

Anyway, have always been satisfied with the CD issue of this album, perhaps I'll open my copy one fine day and hear how it sounds. (when I've acquired a spanking new higher end cartridge)

i have no "issue" with re-issues .... its far more important to enjoy the music than fret over how good or bad certain re-issues are, or what generation pressing of country of origin the LP may be.

Have bought both Time Out the Time Further Out (modern re-issues) of Dave Brubeck and enjoying it all just the same.


IMO, If I had the urge to splurge on some hardware to feel better ... perhaps a 5digit (RMXX,XXX) Phono Cartridge would give a more "feel good" factor here.

I have issues and quite careful with re-issues once a while especially when I get to audition and compare them with the original releases.

A lot of re-issues are reprocessed or remastered to the engineers personal view of how the end result will be, trouble is my past experience is not good. Of course I'm quite forgiving and will contend with whats on hand and already owned. Worst case was one particular Teresa Teng double LP re-issue, I just puked and wasn't to my expectation. Not to mention the asking price for that set.

In truth I acquired quite a fair bit of re-issues for the sake of collecting them since I've nothing else and they've remained still sealed, perhaps I'll think of letting them go when I need the money to fund something else more worthwhile. Some of them are Chinese albums very adored for their audiophile quality or collectible status.

I've heard a few pressings of Time Out on other people's systems and on my own and I can't shake the feeling that there's a 'hole in the middle' effect to them. The right and left channels are quite distinctly separated thus leaving an obvious gap in the middle. Anyone with a similar experience?

Generally I think the stereo seperation is much wider than whats commonly engineered now. Its all in the mic positioning and mixdown process. Reminds me of some 60's British recording quite apparent on EMI (studio 4 or earlier) discs. Perhaps its wide stereo that captivated listeners at that point of time to demonstrate and highlight stereophonics. Oh well, if you don't fancy "hole in the middle", then there's always the MONO version, or you can flick the stereo/mono switch on your amp, if you have it.

tmahmood wrote:Courier charges depends v much on the weight of your order. I usually get mine delivered by Fedex and would cost btwn usd35-50. Normally takes about 4-5 days. If only the customs people don't kacau, or at least be consistent in their valuation.

tmood/bro zeebee

im using the cheapest courier service by amazon..they charge around 4-8 usd and arrive at my home after 2 - 3 weeks....im buying more then 20 lp's from amazon already and no tax.from the 20 lp's that i bought our KASTAM officer only open once the reason only for them to check the originality...

Local Customs are unpredictable and inconsistent. For ages the way they operate is very subjective and debatable not to mention hearsay of cases of c******* . There's always just as many happy stories and awry cases. Just hope you're lucky thats all and prepared in any case. Refusal to accept the landed item or return to sender isn't an option. The item is paid for, just the duty issue. Import a TT(even if 50 years old) and you can be almost sure of sales tax incurred.

fizi wrote:

tmahmood wrote:Courier charges depends v much on the weight of your order. I usually get mine delivered by Fedex and would cost btwn usd35-50. Normally takes about 4-5 days. If only the customs people don't kacau, or at least be consistent in their valuation.

tmood/bro zeebee

im using the cheapest courier service by amazon..they charge around 4-8 usd and arrive at my home after 2 - 3 weeks....im buying more then 20 lp's from amazon already and no tax.from the 20 lp's that i bought our KASTAM officer only open once the reason only for them to check the originality...

Original or other illicit stuff . Yeah, as mentioned, so far no Kastam kacau via other couriers except from Fedex

By the Jabatan Kastam Tax schedule, LPs are exempt from tax. So are turntables.

However, it is fully within the norms for Customs to impose a 10% sales tax on the invoice value incl. shipping charges.

10% is not such a big deal and could still work out to be overall cheaper than buying music locally with its quite high markups by the local reps/distributors. Take for example a Nirvana Nevermind reissue LP.
USD25 online, SDG40 @ Adelphi , but from some local music/hifi store or even local online sellers, RM180 !!


If a person can afford to spend RM500 to buy stuff from Amazon.com, whats the extra RM50 for incurred sales tax ? No big deal really.

RM50 these days can't even pay for a decent buffet dinner per pax at a typical Japanese restaurant...

hi el...

Not too sure if you like this but to me it's soul-full...



Was introduced by a fellow kaki a while back, after that session went out and got these two.

Hooked on to these two tracks "Mannish Boy" and "Got My Mojo working".


cheers

Muddy Waters are good too...Contemplating whether to find it on LP or get it on hi-res....hhhmmmm maybe both...

geez man, that's a no brainer decision right?...

The R.E.M. Live at Olympia is so good... great music and great recording... Good thing it came with CDs as well... to spin in the car, the only place I seem to spin CDs these days...

For SQ....easy decision.... but for simplicity and convenience...thats where the contemplation lies.

Now that I got some good tunes on LPs, but cannot listen to them in the car or iPod. Although the NAD phono actually can convert LPs into MP3s....maybe I will do that on Muddy Waters...

The Folk Singer album is sensational, available on 180g reissue. Got mine from CMY..

Maybe dun tok too much praise about it, otherwise barang naik harga for no logical reason! I thought it was just so so! if there's no comparison. But I did compare.

cmboy.... Is there a better pressing of Folk Singer? Are you referring to the original?

I'll just say again my experience concluded with this was only so-so. Nothing wrong with anyone else owning this and feel it sounds great with own rig and the satisfaction gained.

MF, I totally agree with you that the sales tax by kastam is just a small price to pay considering the savings we make by ordering direct from the States. Altho sometimes the tax is not the only issue, as my brother found to his dismay. His order was actually detained by Kementerian Dalam Negeri!!!. He did however order Master of Puppets, ACDC'S Highway to Hell, Sabbath's Heaven and Hell and Slayer 's God Hate Us All... All ended well tho in that episode.
On the Folk Singer front, I have the 1994 UK pressing by Discover Sounds and the 2001 Classic Records 200gm reissue. The Classic was a vast improvement. Am considering the recent Analogue Productions 200gm 45rpm reissue though.
Elhefe, another one I would recommend is Keb Mo's Peace, Back by Popular Demand..

elhefe wrote:Muddy Waters are good too...Contemplating whether to find it on LP or get it on hi-res....hhhmmmm maybe both...

Hi El...

If you have noticed, there are LP seasons in AMCORP MAll that comes in the form of BLues, Rock, Country, Reggae and so forth.

This time around is the Blues Season .....a sealed record is at a whopping RM###.## and a used LP is at RM###.##. It's an upward trend.

Sometime mid last year a Bob Marley LP was nothing less then RM150.00 and now it's RM80.00 or lower.

I get my LP's off season, meet a certain financial criteria and if its still sold at mind boggling price then the WEB is the mode.

cheers

Depends on the vendor too. There are very few vendors who carry good quality LPs. Some of the more prolific ones sell a huge range, but pricing is all over the place, and quality is unpredictable. To me, a good vendor should be clear in the grading and quality of the vinyl.

In Singapore, one can pick up washed and re-jacketed vinyl for very reasonable prices. New LPs are also on par with online stores.

JediS is right. I once flew down to spore on early am tiger airways ( less than rm150 return)and spend day at adelphi. Flew back same evening. Got some bargains at the basement and new ones too. Would have spent similar or maybe just slightly less at amcorp but am quite pleased with days work. Would be better if go south in a bigger group so can save on taxi fare, not that its overly expensive.

What is the definition of a Jedi Master?

To me...its 3 small blocks of soft wood.

So I had a short but very involving listening session with JediSavant yesterday.... Too short for me because for 1.5 hours, I had learnt a lot from him. But maybe it was too long for him dealing with a TT novice. Hehehehe.

We didnt even bother listening to what NAD PP3 sounds like. Well not really true. The Carpenters singles were on when he arrived about 440 pm. And I was already complaning that I find on certain LPs, the high ends can sound really harsh. I was worried whether its the TT itself. But then I was told that The Carpenters LP might need a good wash.

So first out was the NAD phono stage and came in the Musical Fidelity X-LPS V8 phone stage. I was really eager to listen to a phono stage which I am familiar with the sound signature.

And the first LP went on was Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball album. Hhhhmmm not only her voice was sweet and the music so emotional, but the phono stage really provide the warmth that I long for from my TT. The bass from this LP was just right but sounded a bit dispersed....and Jedi did a quick experiment by putting his LP bag against the wall behind my left speaker. And voila..the bass then was taut and controlled. I LIKE.

Unfortunately, my throne can only accommodate one person so we took turn to sit and listen to various music...(sorry bro that)

Now the 45 RPM LP...I am still trying to figure out why it does not sound like everyone been saying that its audiophile quality. The Metallica album Ride The Lightning and he agrees that it sounded flat...but we do not knw why.

Up next was GNR Spaghetti Incident back on 33..with Since I Dont Have You..it sounded much fuller compared to the 45.

After that it was Led Zep....and we got Leded hahahaha....now thats one album that needed to be heard on an LP...

Now...in the middle of the session, he suggested to tryout this 3 soft wooden blocks, made from crates. Got it out of his car and put it under...and my my my... The sound changed. I suddenly remembered Jo Ki's CAS session on different platform material...I guess analogue benefits from good proper isolation as well. And thats where I got the definition of a Jedi Master.

The session came to an end at 615 pm. But before that we were also discussing a few things in room treatment. Which I may just try it out during my upcoming 1 month vacation.

We also quite agree that the Clearaudio MC cartridge does sound a bit on the bright side. The MF VLPS V8 did injected warmth in it.

The TT however does need more running in....so hopefully to do more listening during the vacation.

---

cmboy wrote:

WongKN wrote:Old is gold, not many turntables can take on the Goldmund Studo or the Oracle Delphi here.

Cannot always impress on people like dat lah! People or any prospective TT rig shopper will have different taste, preference and some budget in mind. You know so well every make have its own character and presentation in its own right and how it may synergize with one's existing amplification.

actually as we go higher and higher end, equipment sound tends to congregate to a common point that of live sound.

WongKN wrote:

---

cmboy wrote:

WongKN wrote:Old is gold, not many turntables can take on the Goldmund Studo or the Oracle Delphi here.

Cannot always impress on people like dat lah! People or any prospective TT rig shopper will have different taste, preference and some budget in mind. You know so well every make have its own character and presentation in its own right and how it may synergize with one's existing amplification.

actually as we go higher and higher end, equipment sound tends to congregate to a common point that of live sound.

Dei WongKN,



Cannot sleep ka? Posting at 4 am????

WongKN wrote:

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cmboy wrote:

WongKN wrote:Old is gold, not many turntables can take on the Goldmund Studo or the Oracle Delphi here.

Cannot always impress on people like dat lah! People or any prospective TT rig shopper will have different taste, preference and some budget in mind. You know so well every make have its own character and presentation in its own right and how it may synergize with one's existing amplification.

actually as we go higher and higher end, equipment sound tends to congregate to a common point that of live sound.

Define "live sound" ?

I think its towards "a live performance", usually with amplification equipment used in the performance.

So we should use pro-sound reinforcement speakers and amplification, brands such as Meyer, Naxos, JBL Pro, Wharfedale Pro etc etc etc!!!

BMB my favourite !!!

JediSavant wrote:So we should use pro-sound reinforcement speakers and amplification, brands such as Meyer, Naxos, JBL Pro, Wharfedale Pro etc etc etc!!!

Free world man! you can if you insist, not that those can't rigged up to serve your purpose anyhow.

I wrote 'live music' which includes but is not limited to live performance. Actually a more appropriate term might be live 'sound' or perhaps REAL sound. Real, live sound has characteristics most of us -inherently- knows so when we hear it we know it is right. And the top equipments all strives to achieve this standard. We can spend days, weeks, even months if we want to perfectly identify all the components which makes a sound 'lifelike' and 'real' so when asked, I always just leave it at that - a sound that we instinctively know sounds realistic, it is just mental masturbation to debate about -exactly- what characrerizes a real sound. The Goldmund Studio and Oracle Delphi goes a long way towards the ideal of real and lifelike sound. Two choices I can honestly recommend. Of course they are not the only two.

WongKN, u are nearly 2 hrs late than yesterday's posting hehehe....

Live Sound = Choir singing Christmas Carols inside a room, full of echo.

A group of novices not famous Band singing outside a Sea Port..Very Live sound... no electric, all mechanical!

A group of veteran singing in the coffee house in a Malacca Hotel, no mic,no amplication.. full of Aura.

Anyway, elhefe; have you manage to get ur TT to beat your digital now?

[img]http://www.hifi4sale.net/[/img]

[img]http://www.hifi4sale.net/[/img]

On the pro-sound front... I helped a friend set up a vinyl DJ station once, all hooked up to an ECHO sound system in a cavernous room... we thought the afro-beats being pumped out sounded pretty REAL... almost went looking for shotguns in case lions showed up...

adrian4454 wrote:Anyway, elhefe; have you manage to get ur TT to beat your digital now?

And yet another fruitful past couple of days....

Was at Rock Corner The Curve on Tuesday.....and my my my...

Good stock of LPs.

Got meself the following:

1. Colplay - Viva La Vida

2. Pearl Jam - Backspacer

3. Andrea Bocelli - Best Of

4. Green Day - Nimrod

5. Diana Krall - A quiet night

All below RM 100 after discount except Andrea..

aannndd via ebay..2 P. Ramlee LPs at RM100

So...verdict..I do find that buying brand new LPs...gives me less headache as the quality of them is rather good...no cracks and pops...compared to buying second hand where you run the risk of bad case of cracks and pops...eventhough the surface conditions of the LPs looks OK to my eyes....

Now...comparing digital files with LP. I only have the following to compare:

1. Eagles hotel california album: LP VS 24/192 hi rez

Winner: LP

2. Andrea Bocelli: LP vs CD

Winner: LP

3. P. Ramlee: LP vs CD

Winner: Tie...hehehe because the CD was also riped from LP...both got crack and pops

4. Santana: LP vs CD

Winner: LP

5. Metallica Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets 45 RPM: LP vs CD

Winner: CD

elhefe: I hope you realise that very shortly along this path, you'll be wanting to trade in your Concept TT for a Performance or something like that!

Once bitten, resistance is futile and pointless ...

bassraptor wrote:elhefe: I hope you realise that very shortly along this path, you'll be wanting to trade in your Concept TT for a Performance or something like that!

Once bitten, resistance is futile and pointless ...

Choose to ignore:...... ........ .....not until I get me phono stage upgraded...

Uh uh... elhefe is now stalking all the Rock Corner stores in town...

elhefe wrote:

5. Metallica Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets 45 RPM: LP vs CD

Winner: CD

Funnily, the Metallica LPs seems to have been messed up during the LP disc mastering process.... the highs are too muted.

If you have a Multi-curve Phono , can try playing these modern re-issue Metallica LPs on the Decca-London curve ... The highs will open up nicely .

Dude, they sounded really bad....I mean bad.... Thin, reedy, clicky and without any substance or body whatsoever, as if someone threw a piece of cloth over the record.....

what Phono stage r u using at the moment ?

Elhefe's got a NAD thingy....

We tried it with the MF V-LPS V8 and it was....... Still baaaaaddd.....

Actually, for nice budget Phonostage thats fairly versatile.... came across these recently.

1. Pro-Ject Phonobox SE II. (Forgot what Tong Lee was selling it for). But maybe around RM1K or less.

2. Clearaudio Nano Phono. RM 1K thereabouts.


Might just go pick up one for to have a run-around with ...

fizi wrote:

tmahmood wrote:Elhefe,
What Phono stage do you have in mind? Btw, despite the gap in years, we seem to have same interest in the music we listen to, Metalicca, Nirvana, GnR etc. Try get your hands on the 25th Anniversary reissue of Nirvana's Bleach in white vinyl. The opening Blow, will really blow you away.

Waiting for 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition delivery from US - Ipoh

Fizi,

Have you received this masterpiece? I decided to just go for the 2009 released of Nevermind and In Utero. Nevermind came in a Blue LP and In Utero came in Yellow LP. A collective definitely.

Fired up Nevermind this morning and it sounded even better then the hi res I downloaded from HDTRacks. Woke the neighbours up as I had to play the drums on Smells Like Teen Spirit and Come As You Are.

elhefe wrote:

fizi wrote:

tmahmood wrote:Elhefe,
What Phono stage do you have in mind? Btw, despite the gap in years, we seem to have same interest in the music we listen to, Metalicca, Nirvana, GnR etc. Try get your hands on the 25th Anniversary reissue of Nirvana's Bleach in white vinyl. The opening Blow, will really blow you away.

Waiting for 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition delivery from US - Ipoh

Fizi,

Have you received this masterpiece? I decided to just go for the 2009 released of Nevermind and In Utero. Nevermind came in a Blue LP and In Utero came in Yellow LP. A collective definitely.

Fired up Nevermind this morning and it sounded even better then the hi res I downloaded from HDTRacks. Woke the neighbours up as I had to play the drums on Smells Like Teen Spirit and Come As You Are.

el,

Yes i received 2 weeks a go...wait 4 nearly a month to received due booking via amazon before official released date..Total of Rm216 for it..Quality wise is good nicely done really collector item edition (will update inner sleeve photo) (180g x 4 pcs nearly 1 kg packaging)

Sound quality is good...this edition more towards collector edition..few unreleased track and few version from studio,BBC and live performance recording.

If got a chance maybe we can try to compare this 2 version when my trip to KL

p/s - i also have unplugged in new york 180g LP

By all means fizi...come come n compare. When r u coming?